Daily Archives: April 13, 2016

A BIG CAN OF WORMS

By William Thomas Jensen

4-13-2016

After a long break, court resumed today at 10:02 AM. Defense attorney Jesse Garcia was welcomed back by Judge Barbara Zuniga. When asked how he was doing, Jesse Garcia replied better than you it seems. Judge Zuniga has been sick for several days now, and had a very bad cough, and raspy voice. Judge Zuniga asked Jesse Garcia whether he was on any medications that would interfere with his ability to conduct the defense of his client. Jesse assured Judge Zuniga that there was no problem with medications.

At this time, Detective Frank Navarro is put back on the stand. Navarro is asked questions by prosecuting DA Marlissa Fereirra about previous cases involving Frank Carson that he was involved with. Navarro said that there had been no complaints involved with these cases.

Defense attorney Percy Martinez then asks Detective Navarro about a time where Navarro had a female sit on her boyfriend’s lap to get a confession. Navarro states that there was no complaint about this situation.

Prosecuting DA Marlissa Fereirra then brings up an incident that occurred 12 years ago with a Niece of Frank Carson. This Niece had stolen books from Frank Carson, and had sold them to Yesterday’s Books. Frank Carson had found these books at Yesterday’s Books and allegedly became furious. Frank allegedly threatened to kill her boyfriend over this. As it turns out, no reports were filed on this incident. Frank’s Niece, and her boyfriend were prosecuted for stealing these items. The defense attorneys objected to this line of questioning because of the length of time that had transpired since the alleged incident, and the fact that no reports were made at the time that it allegedly happened.

At this point, Marlissa Fereirra wants Patrick Hampton to be put back on the stand. There are immediate objections by the defense attorneys. The defense attorneys stated that they just got new discovery from the DA. She states that Patrick Hampton is scared about threats against his family, and that Patrick will be released fairly soon. If the DA is really so concerned about his impending release, I am sure they could arrange for an extended stay in jail.

The DA wants to put Robert Woody’s mother on the stand soon. It appears that her health condition is very poor, and she wants to get her testimony.

Really big stuff happens now. The defense attorneys bring up Robert Woody’s visit with his mother at the DA’s office. The defense attorneys had become aware of this private meeting by a conversation that Woody’s mother had had with an individual. Woody was taken by Detective lingerfeldt, and DA investigator Steve Jacobson to the DA’s office. It seems inappropriate to me for the two investigators to have such contact with that key witness in this case. It also seems inappropriate to me for Robert Woody to have a private meeting with his mother who is a witness in this case. It is stated by Marlissa Fereirra that no recordings of this visit were made. Everything gets recorded in that office whether you know it is recorded or not. She also stated that there were no recordings made while Jacobson and Lingerfeldt drove Woody to the DAs office. I don’t believe this either. I think that what happened will become a big can of worms for the prosecution to deal with.

At this point, defense attorney Percy Martinez requests a private visit between Frank Carson and his mother who is 88 years old. Judge Barbara Zuniga states that she always leaves this up to the people at the jail. I assume that Frank will never get such a visit.

Kirk Bunch is now on the stand. Defense attorney Percy Martinez gets Kirk Bunch to state that his first day working on this case was April 2, 2012. This was about 2 to 4 days after Korey Kauffman was reported missing.

Defense attorney Martha Carlton Magana asks Mr. Bunch about a text message he sent to Robert Woody. Bunch stated that he had obtained the phone number from family members, but also had the phone number from wire taps that had been done. Bunch stated that he does not have a copy of the text messages that were sent. Kirk Bunch was then allowed to step down from the stand.

At this point, judge Zuniga states that she got a file on Ronald Cooper from pleasant Valley. This file had been requested by defense attorney Jesse Garcia. Marlissa Fereirra complains that she had requested these files as well, and has not received them. Poor baby. It is now time for lunch.

The afternoon session starts out with us watching a video of Brian Coates who is Robert Woody’s uncle. Brian Coates father is Brian Woody. In this video, we hear Kirk Bunch tell Brian Coates that “We have several recordings where Robert Woody confessed to the murder of Korey Kauffman. During the interview, Kirk Bunch constantly coaches Brian Coates. Bunch states that “We know there is a bigger picture in this murder.” Bunch states that “The reason we haven’t arrested Robert Woody is that we know there are other people involved.” “Robert will come to the table guaranteed.” Bunch asks Brian Coates about how Robert Woody did the murder. Bunch wanted to know who was involved. Coates stated “I don’t know.” Bunch then asks Coates if Dalgit or Balgit were involved in the killing. Once again, Coates states that he doesn’t know. Coates states that he was at the house with his girlfriend Sunny when he heard Robert Woody state that he killed Korey Kauffman. Coates states that he heard something about pigs eating the body. He heard something about Korey hopping over the fence, and stealing something, and leaving. Coates then talks about Robert Woody saying about how things were taken from Frank Carson. Bunch presses Coates about who was involved. Bunch reminds Coates that “Remember, I already know the answers.” Coates then says “I don’t remember.” Coates then says “I smoke too much weed.” Bunch then tells Coates “You know but you will not tell us.” Coates then tells Bunch about finding a tape recording device that had been left by law enforcement. Coates says that his girlfriend brought the recording device into his house. Coates states that he became mad about this. Bunch then tells Coates that he is holding back.

It is now 4:08 in the afternoon. It is brought out that a witness with the last name of Branco will be the next one to be on the stand.

Defense attorney Martha Carlton Magana then requests an advance recusal motion. In a very forceful argument, Martha tells the court about two of her clients that she can no longer represent because of misconduct by the DAs office. One of Martha’s clients named Terry Fullin had been called by Steve Jacobson. Jacobson used a phony name and set up a meeting. Jacobson wanted to speak with him about Patrick Hampton. Jacobson asked her client a series of loaded questions about alleged threats to Patrick Hampton.

Jacobson had Terry Fullin call Martha and had Terry put the phone on speaker mode so that he could listen in on their conversation. Martha stated that this was malicious bullying and was a serious breach of the attorney client relationship.

Martha then brings up another client by the name of Daryl Harris who was the cellmate of Ronald Cooper. DA Investigator Kirk Bunch visited Harris in jail. Martha was never informed of this visit, and learned about it in discovery. Martha stated that the prosecution is incapable of doing a fair prosecution.

Martha then talks about a crime partner of Korey Kauffman who was beaten up because of stolen tools from Kevin Pickett, and how all these people had been to the grave site of Korey Kauffman in Mariposa. Martha then states that a picture of Jason Armstrong was found in Pickett’s truck at the grave site. Armstrong told Bunch he met the Hunter that found Korey Kauffman’s body in Mariposa. Martha states they made multiple visits to the grave site, and that not one police report was made about this.

Martha Carlton Magana then states that the DA needs to be gone and the Attorney General needs to step in and take over this case. Defense attorney Robert Forkner then states that he wants the Attorney General to be given his motion as well. This can of worms seems to be overflowing.

Prosecuting DA Marlissa Fereirra then goes into a thirty-minute tirade of arguments to rebut what has just transpired. She seemed to be desperate, and reaching for anything that could save her failing case. I think her arguments were weak, and disjointed. She spoke about how this was too late in the game to do what Martha wants to be done. She uses all the time up, and Defense Attorney Percy Martinez is frustrated about not being afforded to speak about another issue he wants to bring up. This will have to wait until the morning.

Sincerely, William Thomas Jensen (Tom)

From visual aid to Justice delayed

by Marty Carlson

Afternoon session 4-13-2016

The afternoon session started with the attempt to play a video of an interview of Brian Coates, who is Robert Woody’s nephew. This interview was dated February 26, 2014 and was done at the Turlock Police Department by investigators Bunch and Evers.

The video started with Brian Coates sitting in the interview room it would appear to be a leather chair and look and extremely nervous. In fact, he had finally taken his shirt and shoes off, I guess trying to make themselves feel at home. Investigators Bunch and Evers had made a very clear to Mr. Coates that he was not in custody and was free to leave at any time as he was there to just take a statement about his uncle.

They advised him that they were aware of Robert Woody statements about killing Korey Kaufman, and that they also have recordings of his confession. Mr. Coates stated he knows nothing about the murder as he was not in this area at the time, in fact he was in Fresno. Investigator bunch continued telling him that Robert Woody has said things that only the killer would know.

At that point we started having massive issues with a video not playing properly, which has been an ongoing issue which the judge is addressed personally with the proper people involved to take care of it and was assured it had been taking care of but obviously not. There are several different ways it was attempted to play and after long delays in several attempts the people in charge of the A/V equipment showed up with a separate screen and projector to play the video.

The video went on where investigator bunch reveals to Mr. Coates that he is asking questions that he already knows the answer to an already knows who killed Corey Kaufman. At that time investigator Evers piped up and seem to be giving Mr. Coates a pep talk and they were only thinking about his best interest to keep him out of trouble. Investigator bunch also made a statement on the video that he had not arrested Robert Woody yet because of other people that were involved. So my understanding is he was letting a murderer walk free for some reason.

They also try to convince Mr. Coates that he would be helping Robert Woody by telling them what he knows, because of Robert Woody’s admissions already, and then goes on to mention maybe the Atwal brothers were involved. Now basically Brian Coates does not know anything more than what was contained in the Woody wire as he was present during much of that conversation. Mr. Coates stated he does not want to snatch but Kirk bunch assures him saying the right thing in a situation like this is not be a snitch.

Sucker punch at that time tells Mr. Coates that of all the interviews that he is done in this case that he is the smartest interview that he has had as of yet. Investigator bunch also reassures Mr. Coates that they are not grasping at straws.

The let me paint a picture for you right here, Brian Coates is sitting there with no shoes, no shirt, pant legs rolled up or was wearing shorts, this was in the middle of February, Mr. Coates freely admits that he gets high all the time on marijuana, but he is being told that he is the smartest person they have interviewed up to this point. Maybe that goes to say the type of people they were interviewing throughout this case.

Brian Coates repeatedly Saying that he knows nothing, and they continue to ask him what the family says, what the rumors are. Investigator Evers keep saying the Brian Coates the does not appear that he wants to tell us anything or cooperate. The only time he has conversations with Robert Woody, his uncle, is what he wants to talk about his problems in life and issues along that line, in fact had repeated that multiple times.

During this interview investigator bunch said he has a text message that he sent Robert Woody trying to get him to turn himself in, which caught my attention because during his testimony this morning he stated he had not kept the communications that he was attempting to have with this murder suspect. Mr. Coates Saying a nothing repeatedly and it appeared that they were not willing to accept his answers.

He did note that were Robert Woody had found the recording device that Miranda “sunny” Dykes had worn for the Dist. Atty. investigators, he played with it somewhat poor the battery out of it and putting it back in the for some reason did not destroy or erase the device. It almost sounded like Robert Woody did not know what the device was when he found it. But it was hard to tell listening to the interview.

The video and its issues with playing it took up most of the afternoon and after 4 o’clock testimony was stopped.

At that time Martha Magana obviously irritated again requested a recusal motion against the DA’s office where they had violated attorney-client privileges with two separate clients than what is in this case.

Apparently during the investigation into the Patrick Hampton claims of being threatened, DA investigator Steve Jacobson had made contact with to a Martha Magana’s clients and in fact requested one of the clients contact missed Magana on the phone what he was standing there, during the speaker on a listening to the conversation between attorney-client. There was also discovery that was turned over that showed investigator Jacobson had been contacting missed Magana’s clients using a phony name an effort to gather information about the Hampton situation and the attorneys involved. This apparently is confirmed by a law enforcement reports filed.

This is caused missed Magana to be conflicted in those cases and had to advise those other two clients to seek separate counsel because their privilege have been compromised. Missed Magana, who was extremely agitated at this point made a comment that the entire DA’s office is not capable of being able to do a fair and impartial investigation of any clients that may belong to any these attorneys involved in the Carson case.

Missed Magana also went on to say that the DA has information that there were some other attacks on people related to some of the Korey Kaufman activities, namely some stolen tools that were taken in one of the people involved with Korey Kaufman was attacked and beaten. She also stated there were multiple visits to the site where the remains of Korey Kaufman were found in someone had actually talk to the Hunter who found the remains, but the District Attorney’s Office is not releasing that information which she claims includes photographs.

It was also claimed by Ms. Magana that rumors have been put out on the street that Percy Martinez had been putting out information about Patrick Hampton or others to some gang members thus putting Hampton at risk. Keep in mind a common practice used by these investigators as we have seen in the past love to use rumors to stimulate things on the street and they called it “tickling.”

During this very livid argument being made by Ms. Magana I noticed some I was a Ferreira’s body language start speaking volumes, she was not a happy person, Ms. Magana ended her argument requesting that this preliminary hearing be stopped in a hearing be held with the Atty. Gen.’s office as to possibly taking over this case.

Mme. DA responded saying they cannot ask for recusal at this point as a have already attempted to do so, and only get one bite of the apple. Missed Magana piped up very quickly and said that is not true.

Mme. DA agrees that investigator Jacobson did listen to an attorney client conversation concerning Ms. Magana, and also stated that Percy Martinez had put out snitch information on Patrick Hampton for the gang members to be made aware. She also accused defense attorneys of leaking information that has been revealed on the Internet.

Since Mme. DA did not specify this writer I cannot be totally sure as to what she was referring to. But I will at this time state here and now I personally have not received any information that is not public knowledge. Any evidence that’s been admitted to the court, that is not subject to a gag order, is public knowledge. Any conversations on the record in the courtroom, testimony, arguments, motions, again are all public knowledge and anybody can be sitting in the courtroom can report what was said in heard.

Again I will say I have not received any information from anyone that is not of the public domain in the right to know. In fact, there is been some admitted evidence that I have been having frustrated in my efforts to get but have not been able to do so.

It appears the District Attorney’s Office is making a stance that they feel the public does not have a right to know what happens in our courtrooms. It appears that they seem to be concerned about the bloggers in the back row instead of just taking care of their case.

It might be noted to that during the playing of the video I had moved to the other side of the courtroom gallery to get a better view of the screen, which put me almost directly behind the district attorney and her investigator, and they are constantly looking towards the back row they did a quick look around the room to see where I was. Apparently I’ve gotten in their head a little bit and I don’t really know why. All they have to do is their job and present the evidence not worry about the blogger in the back row.

I might also note that after the arguments by Mme. DA Percy Martinez was obviously very agitated one to make his argument in this issue and it was already past 4:30 and the judge stated he can make it tomorrow that it is already too late. And that I understand because a court reporters working very hard and needs to stop and also prepare her transcripts to be ready for the next day.

Court was then continued until 930 tomorrows, I’m not a sure what we going to see tomorrow but it’s possible Patrick Hampton may retake the stand. It sounded like to Dist. Atty. wanted to get Patrick Hampton’s testimony on the record while he was stealing custody. I think they were afraid once he gets released, which could be anytime, they may not see him again.

This is a lunchtime report the Frank Carson preliminary hearing on 4-13- 2016.

By Marty Carlson

Court finally resume today scheduled for 9:30 but actually started at 10 a.m.

The judge welcome back attorney Jesse Garcia wishing him well also confirmed that he was physically and mentally capable of continuing on in this case and making sure that there was no painkiller use heat or anything along that line to inhibit him. He is sure the court that he was fine and had no problems continuing on.

Investigator Navarro again took the stand and was asked about the previous cases that Carson had Been the defense attorney, an officer Navarro claimed he had no ill will against Frank Carson. He also stated that he had no complaints were filed against him buy Frank Carson or any of his clients.

Percy Martinez inquired about some cases where complaints had been brought against officer Navarro, specifically getting a female to sit on your boyfriend’s lap in an effort to get a confession out of the boyfriend. Navarro claims there was no complaint or action taken.

Madam district attorney then attempted start a redirect on an incident that occurred about 12 years ago with a family member that had stolen some property from Frank Carson. They have made the statement 2 Navarro in August in regards to behavior that they said Frank Carson exhibited. No police reports were filed no further action was taken and in fact they were prosecuted for stealing the property which I believe we’re books of course drug charges.

The judge ruled that this is an improper line of questioning as it was a long period and time between this incident and the Korey Kauffman case and there was no other reports of this type of activity in between.

The da then attempted to put Patrick Hampton back on the stand to the objection of all the defense attorneys because they had just been provided discovery this morning just prior to court. The judge ruled that she cannot give discovery on a witness and then turn right around and immediately called that Witness.

Madam DA  then explained that she wanted to get Patrick Hamptn on the stand as soon as possible because she was not sure how long he would be in custody and the problems she may have getting him here out of custody. And this is the gentleman that inserted himself in this case but apparently is Running Scared.

The da then stated she would like to get Woody’s mom on the stand as soon as possible as she is in failing health. Discussion then lead to a long conversation about the visit that Robert would he had with his mother after his court appearance on Monday. It was representative to the court that would he had made a request to visit his mother and was accommodated by the DA’s office.

When I was standing outside the courtroom you Monday morning before it open I had seen investigator lingerfelt enter the court room through the side door where the inmates go in and investigator Bunch appeared in court with the DA Marlisa Ferreira there was no request made in court when the case was called and Beverly Woody told me outside the courtroom that she was going to go visit her son at the DA’s office. This was a pre-planned visit and the attorneys were requesting any recordings or reports or transcripts as in custody situations with homicide suspect all visitations are recorded normally.

Gary said no recordings were made no reports were written and they had a visit by themselves would know law enforcement or investigators present. This is also a murder suspect who has confessed comma even though it’s his mother she is a witness in this murder case and is to be called. The attorneys argued that there were special considerations Happening Here and the judge advised them if they want to pursue this with a motion to file briefs and let’s move on.

One last request was made by Percy Martinez that was to allow Frank Carson to visit his mother, who is 88 years old comma in a private setting just as Robert Woody was allowed to do. Of course the judge denied that and of course there’s going to be no cooperation with the district attorney on that.

Then investigator Bunch retook the stand and was asked again by Percy Martinez when he started on the investigation which was April 2nd of 2012 which was only a couple days after Corey Kaufman’s missing persons report has been filed.

Martha magana began asking the witness about text messages that he had sent tell him what he he had a warrant for his arrest. He also stated that he had received the phone number from family members of Woody but through further Christine revealed he already knew Robert Woody’s phone number through the multiple wiretaps that they have been doing.

Investigator Bunch also revealed even though Robert Woody was a murder suspect he had sent him text as in at least two of them and stated he had not kept a record of the text or their content. Further questioning into the text continued until an objection by the district attorney was made as outside the scope of the direct which was sustained by the judge.

Just before breaking for lunch the judge advised she had received some paperwork from Department of Corrections in regards to a subpoena by Jesse Garcia. It was received from Pleasant Valley State Prison and was a general file under the name of Ronald Cooper.

And broke for lunch to return at 1:30